Trenton High's Levy excited to continue football career at UConn

Andrew Miller/For The Times of TrentonTrenton Central High School football standout Richard Levy, who has committed to the University of Connecticut on a full scholarship, poses for a portrait in Trenton Friday.

TRENTON — On the first day of freshmen football practice four years ago, Richard Levy showed up on the Trenton High practice field wearing capri pants and dress shoes.

“I had no idea what football was about,” Levy said. “Somebody told me to be at Trenton High at 3 p.m. All I knew was I wanted to play.”

Undaunted, Levy went through the entire practice in street clothes — including wind sprints.

Tomorrow the kid wearing the capris and dress shoes — now 6-foot-6, 305 pounds with an 83-inch fingertip-to-fingertip wingspan — will sign a National Letter of Intent with the University of Connecticut.

Still “raw” by his own admission, only Levy’s potential is bigger than he is.

Levy, who came to the United States from Jamaica when he was 12 years old, didn’t participate in organized sports before high school.

“A little basketball,” he said. “I didn’t like it too much ... not enough contact.”

In Levy, UConn gets a player hungry to be coached and a kid who never misses a workout, is never late for class and religiously walks a mile to and from Sunday service at the New Salem Baptist Church on Cass Street.

Levy can be found in the school weight room Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. He bench presses 315 pounds, squats 415 and runs a 5.1-second 40-yard dash.

“Every aspect of me has to get better,” Levy said. “I have to improve, this is Division I.”

Yet the number Levy is most proud of is 3.5 — his grade point average. While undecided about his major at UConn, Levy is steadfast about receiving his diploma.

Football may have gotten him into college, but he plans on leaving with his degree.

“This isn’t just about football for me,” Levy said. “I want to broaden my horizons.”

Levy speaks in soft tones, but it is his motivation that speaks loudly about the man he has become.

Levy said he has seen his mother, Veda Thompson, only once in the past six years. She remained in Kingston, Jamaica. He said his father, Valentine, has been minimally involved his upbringing.

He and his 16-year-old brother, Demar, who is only 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, have been raised by his grandmother, Velva Levy. Levy brought up the brothers in her Edgewood Avenue home in the city’s West End. A housekeeper, 72-year-old Velva Levy has never seen Richard Levy play a single down.

“Everything I do, I’m trying to show my grandmother that I’m different,” Levy said. “I want to make her proud. And I never, ever want to go through the things my father has gone through.”

Valentine Levy has struggled to find consistent employment.

“Before I’m done at UConn, she will see me play,” Levy said.

“I want her to see how hard work and dedication look on her grandson.”

Levy admits football helped keep him “on the positive side.”

“It if wasn’t for football, I could be like other kids who had nothing better to do and go involved with drugs or gangs or just dropped out,” Levy said. “Football was something positive.”

Levy remembered his first scrimmage where he struggled to learn the game.

“I was playing offensive tackle, they ran a play to my side, and I just stood up and looked around,” he remembered.

“I had no idea what I was doing.”

“What I love about football is that strangers can come together and become a team,” Levy added.

“They form a bond because of football. I love everything about football.

“I like the idea of bullying the guy in front of you ... if someone makes the tackle, it isn’t going to be my guy.”

It doesn’t take long to understand why UConn was willing to take the chance nobody else would when it came to Levy. He will have three days of summer vacation after Trenton High graduates in June. Then he goes to Connecticut.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’m counting down the days.

“Richard Levy is going to excel at UConn. I have the desire to be the best of the best.”
And while some may wonder if Levy has what it takes to become a big-time player, Levy answers confidently:

“Only one way to find out.”

AREA COMMITMENTS
Two of the best football-playing athletes in Mercer County made college commitments yesterday.

David Dudeck, a 5-11, 195-pounder who played defensive back, quarterback, wide receiver and returned kicks for his father Dave Sr. at Hun School, committed to Boston College yesterday. Before getting an offer from B.C. on Friday, Dudeck was considering the U.S. Naval Academy and Yale University.

Adam Riese, 6-1, 195, who quarterbacked Steinert to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship game, committed to New Hampshire after visiting the school, according to Steinert coach Dan Caruso.